Rail-coupling device.



No. 863,378. PATENTED AUG. 1a, 1907 J. w. GEE.

RAIL COUPLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 19.07.

PATENT orrion.

JOHN WHARTDN GEE, OF BRYAN, TEXAS.

RAIL-COUPLING nnvron.

Specification .of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed May 4, 1907- Serial No- 371,851.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN WnAnToN Gnp, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bryan, in the county of Brazos and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Coupling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail coupling devices, and the object thereof is to provide means in a manner as hereinafter set forth for coupling together parallel rail sec'tions of a railway track to prevent spreading of the rails with respect to each other.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a rail coupling device for the purpose set forth which shall be simple in its construction, strong, durable, eificient in its use, readily set up with respect to a pair of par-. el-lel rail sections and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention ,lout it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of theclaims hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail reference is bad to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 i s a perspective view of a rail-coupling de- V vice in accordance with this inventionand with the parts thereof dis-assembled; Fig. 2 is a transverse section of a track-bed showing the adaptation of the coupling device in accordance with this invention arranged in operative position with respect to a pair of rail sections.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters a rail-coupling device in accordance with this invention comprises two members, 1, 2, each of which consists of an elongated, narrow strip of suitable material having the outer end thereof bent upon itself, as at 3, so as to provide a hook-shaped end for each of the members 1, 2. The portion 3 of each of the members extends inwardly and upwardly at an inclination and where it merges into its respective member it is rounded as at 4. Each of the members 1, 2 is formed at its inner portion with a pair of openings 5, 6, the openings in one member registering with the openings in the other member when the coupling device is in its operative position.

The hook-shaped end of each of the members 1, 2,

when the coupling device is in its operative position, is adapted to overlap the outer side of the base 9 of the rail section 10, the base 9 of the rail sections 10 being seated upon the members 1, 2, as shown in Fig. 2. The rounded portion 4', when the members 1, 2 are in coupling positipn, engages thebuter edge of the base9 of the rail section 10, but the 'portion 3 does not contact throughout with the upper face of the base 9 of the rail section. Set-screws 11 are provided which extend through the portions 3 at an inclination and engage with the upper face of the base ,9 oi the rail sections. The

set-screwell-fixedly connect the members 1, 2 to the so as to prevent the spreading thereof. The coupling device is formed of two members so as to enable the convenient positioning of the same in the track-bed, and further, if one member should become damaged, it will not be necessary to throw the entire coupling device away, as another member can be substituted for the injured one and readily attached to the member that is not injured or damaged.

A rail-coupling device set up in a manner as heretotore referred to offers a ready, feasible, durable, eflicient and inexpensive means for coupling the rail sec- 0 tions of a railway track together so as to prevent the spreading of one section with respect to the other..

What I claim is- 1. A rail coupling device comprising two members formed from an elongated, narrow strip of suitable material of the same thickness throughout. one of which overlaps.the, other at the inner end thereof and each of which is. provided with a plurality of openings at its inner por tion, the openings in one member registcring with the openings in theother member, hold=fast devices extending through said openings for detachabiy securing themembers together at their inner ends, each of said members further provided at its outer end with an angular portion extending upwardly and inwardly and adapted to over-lap one side of the base of a rail, and set-screws extending through said angular portions and engaging the base of the rails for clamping the members thereto. said set screws compensating for varying sizes of rail bases and for ir regular upper surfaces of the rail bases.

2. A railcoupling device comprising two members formed from an elongated. narrow strip of material. one

of which overlaps the other at the inner end thereof and each of which is provided with a plurality of openings at its innerportion, the openings in one member registering:

with the openings in the other member, hold-fnst devices extending through said openings for detachably securing the momli 's together at their inner ends, each of said members further provided atits outer end with an angular portion p vtending upwardly and inwardly and adapted to overlap one side oi the base of a rail, and sot-screws extending through said portions and engaging the base of the rails for clamping the members thereto, said set screws connwnsating [or varying sizes of rail bases and for irregular upper surfaces of the rail buses, that part 01' the 1 overlapping portion which merges into thebody portion of its respective member being rounded.

fl. A rail coupling device comprising two members I for cIamping the members thereto, said set screws compen- 10 formed from an-elongated-narrow strip of suitable material, one of which over-laps the other at the inner end thereof, means extending through the overlapping portions of the members for detachably securing them together,

each of said members further provided at its outer end with an angular portion extending upwardly and inwardly, and set screws extending through said angular portion at an inclination and adapted toengage the base of the rails satmg for varying sizes of rail bases and for irregular upper surfaces of the rail bases.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand inv presence of two suhscribing witnesses.

JOHN WHARTON GEE.

Witnesses:

C. E. BOYET'L, .T. D. CONLEE. 

